Fully loaded control arms?
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
From: Cape Coral Florida
Lars,
I am considering doing a front suspension rebuild on my 68. I am not a hard core mechanic and am trying to get my nerve up to take this on myself. I also want to do the Steeroids R&P conversion at the same time. A good “How to….for dummies” might just be what I need to push me over the edge. That and thinking of what other projects I could afford with the money I’d save!! How can I get a copy of your paper.
Thanks,
Kelly
I am considering doing a front suspension rebuild on my 68. I am not a hard core mechanic and am trying to get my nerve up to take this on myself. I also want to do the Steeroids R&P conversion at the same time. A good “How to….for dummies” might just be what I need to push me over the edge. That and thinking of what other projects I could afford with the money I’d save!! How can I get a copy of your paper.
Thanks,
Kelly
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 5,339
Likes: 546
From: Central Texas
FWIW I purchased used control arms, cleaned them up, had a mechanic put my new bushings in. Then I simply swapped them out like you want to do. A arms were about $25 each on fleabay or here. Good information here in the tech forum on dealing with the spring install also. 
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: Houma La
Just did my set last weekend per Lars' papers. For me it was difficult getting the the bushings to come out. Popping the rivet heads off was easy but working the rivet out very difficult. The instructions are very clear, so it boils down to technique and experience. I'm sure it took me a lot longer than it should have but it's done and I did it myself.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 350
From: No Where USA
While looking around for front end suspension parts I discovered that VanSteel does indeed sell the complete upper and lower control arm assembly with poly bushings and Moog ball bearing installed. All this for $169.99 minus the 10% forum discount.
http://www.vansteel.com/index.cfm?fu...up=102&ID=3258
http://www.vansteel.com/index.cfm?fu...up=102&ID=3262
http://www.vansteel.com/index.cfm?fu...up=102&ID=3258
http://www.vansteel.com/index.cfm?fu...up=102&ID=3262
Thats almost $700 for control arms. Did you ever think of getting tubular ones for about the same price.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 338
Likes: 9
From: South Bend IN
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I took mine out and to a local shop to replace bushings in and drill out the old ball joints. I think I spent $100 for that plus the cost of the new bushings. The replacement ball joints bolt on so you can install those once the old ones have been removed. I think this would be a much more cost effective process since getting them out was the hardest part, which you are still planning to do yourself.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,889
Likes: 23
From: Kansas
Burnt out the rubber in the old bushings with a torch, installed new bushings with an 1 1/4" steel nipple & a cap. Stood them up in the grass area, & tapped them right into place. Used cold chisel & hammer & cut rivets off of ball joints, bolted new ones in place. I did look up torque numbers on the bolts. Any machine shop will install them for you. The new ones look real good, & they are ready to install, painted & all. One car I installed the Aluminium ones on top, made by Shark Bite. easy as pie. Have a great one. Gene
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 288
Likes: 1
From: Maple Ridge British Columbia
Well, I ended up buying a small 12 ton press to do my universal joints as all the local shops around here wanted at least $200 + tax just for the labour. I bought the press for $149 all taxes in. So since I now have the press, I'm going to attempt to do the rebuild on the control arms myself.
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